Chapter 5 Changes on the Western Frontier p

Chapter 5 Changes on the Western Frontier p. 212 Essential Question: How did westward migration after the Civil War affect the United States?

Section 1 p. 214 Cultures Clash on the Prairies • Contrast the cultures of Native Americans and white settlers and explain why white settlers moved West. • Trace the development of the cattle industry Main Idea: The cattle industry boomed in the late 1800 s, as the Culture of the Plains Indians declined Why it matters now: Today, ranchers and Plains Indians work to preserve their cultural traditions. Terms and names are listed on your guide.

Where are the Great Plains?

• The (1) Great Plains is the grassland extending through the west-central portion of the US. It extends from the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi River. Other names for it is the Prairie, the breadbasket of the US, and the grasslands.

(9)How did the culture of white settlers differ from that of Nat/Am? Native Americans: the land cannot be owned. White Settlers: believed that the Nat/Am were not using of improving the land – such as planting crops, cattle ranching or mining. George A. Custer – he was vain (1839 – 1876)- went to the West after a distinguished career in the C. W. Although he was last in his class at West Point, he became the youngest general in the Union Army at 23 – he was later demoted. Colonel Custer was sent to the Black Hills to provide protection to settlers because gold had been discovered on Indian land. He raided Indian camps(he killed their women and children). Later, Custer was killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn – Led by Crazy Horse, Gall, and Sitting Bull, the Nat/Am outflanked and crushed Custer’s troops, and within an hour, all the men of the 7 th Calvary were dead. Sitting Bull later said that “it was a lie that I killed Custer. He was a “fool who rode to his death. ” Sometimes this is called Custer’s Last Stand.

How did the horse influence Native American life on the Great Plains? The horse gave them increased mobility, extending their hunting territory. But the horse also sometimes promoted greater communication, and sometimes clashes with other tribes. Conflicting Dreams: The dreams of white settlers and immigrants conflicted with those of Nat/Am. Both groups wanted to use Western lands and the resources there while Nat/Am believed that the land belonged to no one, the settlers advocated private property rights. A possible compromise might have been to set aside lands and resources for Native Americans so they could pursue their way of life. However, when it came to the issue of land, the two groups would choose confrontation and bloodshed over compromise. Another problem: finding gold and silver in the West. The prospect of striking it rich was one powerful attraction to the West. Discovery of gold in Colorado in 1858 drew tens of thousands of miners to the region. These “fortune seekers” were from Ireland Germany, Poland, China and African-American men.

Virginia City, Nevada – Helena, Montana originated as mining camps and boomtowns on Nat/Am lands. Most mining camps and tiny frontier towns had filthy ramshackle living quarters; rows of tents and shacks with dirt streets and wooden sidewalks spoiled the picturesque landscapes.

• What was the government’s policy toward Nat/Am land? The government wanted to restrict all Nat/Am to designated areas. They created treaties that defined specific boundaries for each tribe. Most Nat/Am still continued to hunt on their traditional lands, clashing with settlers and miners – to their demise. • Treaties? A way to control Nat/Am. To the benefit of US Gov’t. The gov’t broke their promises and treaties so much that Nat/Am realized they weren’t worth the paper they were written on. • By 1894 the US gov’t had taken about 90% of Indian lands. By the year 2000 Nat/Am have less than 1%. • By 1990 there were 314 different reservations. 1 in 5 Nat/Am lived on those lands. Most reservations have less than 1, 000 living there. It’s a difficult life – inadequate facilities and many Nat/Am live below the poverty line – more that ½.

(2) Sitting Bull: was a much loved leader of the Hunkappa Sioux; he was a warrior, spiritual leader, and medicine man; he did not want whites in Sioux territory – didn’t like them, he also fought against Custer who was killed at Little Big. Horn. He and his followers took refuge in Canada until 1881. He returned to prevent his people from starving. He was forced to surrender and stopped fighting. In 1885 he joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and was finally killed by Nat/Am police in 1890.

(3)Assimilation – This is a plan under which Nat/Am would give up their beliefs and way of life and become a part of the white culture. (4) Dawes Act – Tried to Americanize the Nat/Am; it broke up reservations and gave some of the land to individual Nat/Am… the rest of the land would go to the white settlers. It was more of a hardship than help to Nat/A. The Nat/Am received no money from the sale of their lands. . White settlers had most of the land. This is when the Indian Wars In the ended.

Destruction of the Buffalo: A significant blow to tribal life of the plains was the destruction of the buffalo. Tourists and fur traders shot buffalo for sport. These buffalo were the Plains Indians; main source of food, clothing, shelter, and fuel. The buffalo numbered 65 million in 1800 to around 1, 000 in 1890.

Random picture- ooh kinda weird in a creepy way.

• Battle of Wounded Knee: The Sioux suffered poverty and disease. They were desperate, they turned to a Paiute prophet who told them that if they performed the Ghost Dance, their lands and way of life would be restored – they performed the dance for days. The whites thought they were working themselves up to another Indian War. The military leaders ordered the arrest of Sitting Bull, his body guard killed one and they killed Sitting Bull. The fearful Sioux chief led them away. • December 28, 1890 – Custer's old 7 th Calvary restored rounded up 350 freezing and starving Sioux. In their camp at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota, the soldiers demanded their weapons. A shot was fired, the soldiers fired on them with a cannon and within minutes the 7 th Calvary slaughtered around 300 mostly unarmed Nat/Am. They left their corpses to freeze on the ground. This battle brought the Indian wars and an entire era to an end. • The spread of the Ghost Dance and the killing of Sitting Bull led to the Battle of Wounded Knee.

• Cattle becomes big business: As the great herds of buffalo disappeared and Nat/Am were forced onto small- poor reservations, horses and cattle flourished on the plains. As cattle ranchers opened the Great Plains to big business, ranching from Texas to Kansas became profitable. • The Texas longhorns were sturdy, short-tempered breeds Accustomed to the dry grasslands of southern Spain. Spanish Settlers raised longhorns for food and brought horses. Long Drive: The 3 month overland transport of cattle. 1 – cowboy for every 250 – 300 animals; a cook/chuck wagon – set up camp; wrangle –cared for extra horses; trail boss.

Chisholm Trail: it was a major cattle route from San Antonio, Texas, going north through Oklahoma to Kansas. 35, 000 head of cattle were shipped out of Abilene, KS in the first year then it doubled. Soon ranchers were hiring cowboys to drive their cattle to Abilene. In Abilene cattle trails and rail lines met where the cattle were shipped east to major cities (Chicago).

• Growing demand for beef: After the C. W. , the demand for beef skyrocketed, partly due to the rapidly growing cities. Railroads were also able to ship beef to the markets rather quickly causing the expansion of rail lines. • What caused an end to the cattle industry? Overgrazing of the land, extended bad weather – dry summers/harsh winters wiped out whole herds , and the invention of barbed wire for the fencing-in ranches and farms. The time of the wide-open West was over.

• The cattle industry rose because of the seizure of Nat/Am lands; the adaptation of the longhorn to the Plains; the growing demand for beef. Its decline was from overgrazing, bad weather; barbed wire, and the end of the open plains. • What brought economic opportunities to the Plains? The growth of the railroads, cattle industry, and the government support of ‘free land. ’

Random picture – real? Or stuffed? I’m talking about the alligator.

Section 2 p. 226 Settling on the Great Plains Main Idea: Settlers on the Great Plains transformed the land despite great hardships Why it matters now: The Great Plains region remains the breadbasket of the US. Objective: Explain the rapid settlement of the Great Plains due to homesteading.

As the railroads penetrated the frontier and the days of the free-ranging cowboy ended, hundreds of thousands of families migrated west, lured by vast tracts of cheap, fertile land In their effort to establish a new life, they endured extreme hardships and loneliness. Settlers move westward to farm: The federal land policy and the completion of transcontinental railroad lines made this rapid settlement possible – 1870 – 1900 400 million acres of forests and prairies were settled. How did the railroads help open the West? The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad connection the east coast to the west coast made travel west quick, safer and quick. The railroad also recruited settlers (they had acquired land to build their railroad – and decided to make even more money by settling this land to settlers from the US and Europe).

In 1862 Congress passed the Homestead Act. It offered 160 acres of land free to any citizen 21 years old or intended citizen who was head of the household. They had to live on the property and farm it for 5 years – then it was theirs. From 1862 – 1900 up to 600, 000 families took up this offer. Also, thousands of Exodusters moved to Kansas. Exodusters: after the C. W. these were Af/Am who moved from the South to the West in Kansas to start a new life. A soddy is a sod home that was warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It was made by cutting and stacking the thick prairie grass to make a house. They were small with little light, and haven for snakes, insects and pests. They were fireproof but leaked when it rained. Speculator: a person who buys or sells something that involves a risk on the chance of making a profit.

How did new inventions change farming in the West? Inventions such as barbed wire, the steel plow, the steel windmill, and the reaper helped farmers increase production and led to the development of bonanza farms. Morrill Act of 1862 and 1890 gave federal land to the states to help finance agricultural colleges.

Bonanza Farm: a new type of farming in created by railroad companies and investors in the 1870 s called bonanza farms. They were enormous single-crop farms of 15, 00 – 50, 000 acres. These large farm owners were over-extended, had a drought, and because their crop production wasn’t flexible – slowly went into bankruptcy. They could not compete with small farms. Mortgage: to legally pledge property to a creditor as security for the payment of a loan or debt. All farmers had to also deal with the rising cost of shipping grain by rail. Western farmers were charged more than farmers in the East. Farmers were at time charged more for short hauls and forced farmers deeper into debt. There was no competition in the rail industry (very powerful) who claimed this was the cost of doing business. Farmers resented being taken advantage of. Because of a combination of problems, farmers began challenging these conditions which drew farmers together for a common cause Extortion: illegal use of one’s official position or powers to obtain property or funds.

• In what ways did government policies encourage settlement of the West? By making land available cheaply through various land grants ( Morrill Act, Homestead Act are examples)

Section 3 p. 231 Farmers and the Populist Movement • Main idea: Farmers united to address their economic problems, giving rise to the Populist movement. • Why it matters now: Many of the Populist reform issues, such as income tax and legally protected rights of workers, are now taken for granted. • Objective: Explain the rise and fall of the Populist Party

Oliver Hudson Kelley: started the Patrons of husbandry, an organization for farmers that became known as the Grange. The Grange: its original purpose was to provide a social outlet and an educational forum for isolated farm families. By 1870, they spent most of their time fighting the RR industry. Its plan was to teach its members how to organize, set up farmers’ cooperatives, and sponsor state legislation to regulate RR. Farmers’ Alliances: a spin-off of the Grange. Sympathized with farmers. They sent lecturers to towns to educate people on lower interest loans, government control over RR and banks. Some alliances included blacks, others kept it separate. Populism: a movement of the people. It was a late 19 thc. Political movement demanding that people have a greater voice in government and seeking to advance the interests of farmers and laborers.

US Currency: originally our monetary system was set up on a bimetallic system in which both gold and silver were used as legal tender. The paper money issued during the Revolutionary War became almost worthless so they stopped issuing paper money again until the 1860 s also called “greenbacks. ” Greenbacks could not be exchanged for gold or silver. Today, our money is not backed by gold or silver. .

• What about that Panic of 1893? Well, well, in the 1880 s farmers were overextended – had debts/loans. The RR expanded faster than the markets. – so… several RRs (Philadelphia, Reading, Erie, Northern Pacific, Union Pacific, Santa Fe) went bankrupt. The government’s gold supply had worn thin (partly because of the obligation to buy silver) and people panicked and traded their paper money for gold. The panic spread to Wall Street – stocks fell rapidly. The price of silver plunged causing silver mines to close. By the end of the year over 15, 000 businesses and 500 banks went out of business. In other words – over expansion of key industries (rr) and a shrinking federal gold reserve caused it.

Bimetallism: a monetary system in which the government would give citizens either gold or silver in exchange for paper currency/checks. P. 234 Gold standard: “gold bugs” backing dollars solely with gold; supports of bimetallism claimed that it would make more currency available if the currency was backed by gold and silver… (Pres. Cleveland). Backing the currency was important because people felt paper money was worthless if it could not be turned in for gold or silver. William Mc. Kinley: The Republican Party candidate and gold standard supporter. He wins the Presidency, and this is when Populism ends. The bimetallism controversy ends when he backs US currency with gold. William Jennings Bryan: Democratic Party candidate- for the common people – in favor of a combined gold and silver standard, including unlimited coinage of silver. Supports bimetallism – “free silver. ” In his “Cross of Gold” speech, he believed that bimetallism would bring the nation prosperity. He ran for president 3 times and lost BUT he influenced reform without being elected president. Some things he fought for were the 8 hour work day and women’s suffrage.

Why did farmers think that an increased money supply would help solve their economic problems? It would increase prices for their products. What were some causes of farmers’ economic problems? Deflation, high railroad rates, cycle of mortgage and debt. How did the Populist Movement impact the role of the federal government in American society? The movement impacted the platform of the Democratic Party and promoted the idea that the government should be involved in reforming society. Why was the metal that backed paper currency such an important issue in the 1896 presidential campaign? Because people thought that paper currency had value ONLY if it could be turned in for precious metals – gold or silver. What ended populism? The election of William Mc. Kinley as President. He chose gold to back the US monetary system. Done!

Gold Bugs and Silverites Gold Bugs Silverites Who They Were Bankers and businessmen Farmers and laborers What They Wanted Gold standard Less money in circulation Bimetallism More money in circulation Why Loans would be repaid in stable money Products would be sold at higher prices. Effects DEFLATION • Prices fall • Value of money increases • Fewer people have money INFLATION • Prices rise • Value of money decreases • More people have money

Possible test date: Tuesday!